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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

White House clears way to arm, train Somali forces as US normalizes relations with Somalia

President Barack Obama cleared the way Monday for the U.S. to arm and train
Somali forces, taking a step toward normal relations with the East African
nation as it works to build confidence in its newly recognized government.

In a memo to Secretary of State John Kerry, Obama said he has determined that
supplying defense equipment and services “will strengthen the security of the
United States and promote world peace.” The move doesn’t immediately provide new
assistance to Somalia, but allows Kerry to consider taking that step in the
future.

Somalia is trying to preserve fragile progress toward establishing its first
functional government after two decades of chaos. The U.S. formally recognized
the African nation’s new government in January — the first time the U.S. had
recognized a Somali government since 1991, when warlords overthrew longtime
dictator Siad Barre and then turned on one another.

“The United States is committed to being a long-term partner in assisting the
defense forces in Somalia defense to become a professional military force,” said
National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden.

A relative peace has returned to Somalia’s war-battered capital of Mogadishu
since African Union forces ousted al-Shabab — a militant group loosely
associated with al-Qaida — from the city over 18 months ago. But al-Shabab
rebels are not yet defeated, and the U.S. remains concerned about the threat the
group could pose to the region’s stability. The U.S. designated al-Shabab a
terrorist group in 2008.

Obama’s decision was not tied to any new threat assessment in Somalia, said a
senior administration official, who was not authorized to discuss security
assessments publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The move follows a decision by the U.N. Security Council, after an appeal
from Somali officials, to partially suspend the arms embargo on Somalia for 12
months. The council preserved a ban on exports of a list of heavy military
hardware, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-tank guided weapons and
night-vision weapons.

The U.S. government has provided funds and training to African Union forces
fighting al-Shabab in Somalia, and has also provided more than $133 million to
Somalia since 2007 in security sector assistance, intended to help the country
build up and professionalize its security forces. Obama’s memorandum on Friday
opens the door for military-to-military relations, allowing the U.S. to provide
equipment, training and other assistance directly to Somalia’s government and
military.